Buttons

Description    Purpose    Advantages     Disadvantages    Usage    Button Labels     Size

1. Description
1. A square or rectangular-shaped control with a label inside that indicates action to be accomplished.
2. The label may be either text, graphics, or both.
2. Purpose
1. To start actions.
2. To change properties
3. To display a pop-up menu.
3. Advantages
1. Always visible, reminding of choices available.
2. Can provide meaningful description of the actions that will be performed.
3. Larger size generally provides faster selection target.
4. Can possess 3-D appearance.
1. Adds an aesthetically pleasing style to the screen.
2. Provides visual feedback through button movement when activated.
5. May permit use of keyboard equivalents and accelerators.
6. Faster than using a two-step menu bar/pull-down sequence
4. Disadvantages
1. Consumes screen space.
2. Size limits the number that may be displayed.
3. Requires moving the pointer to select.
5. Usage
1. Cause something to happen immediately
2. To display another window.
3. To display a menu of options.
4. To set a mode or property value.
6. Button Labels
1. Use standard button labels when available.
2. Provide meaningful descriptions of the actions that will be performed.
3. Use single-word labels whenever possible.
4. Use mixed-case letters with the first letter of each label word capitalized.
5. Display labels in a regular system font and in the same size font.
6. Center the label within the button borders leaving at least two pixels between the text and the button border.
7. Provide consistency in button labeling across all screens.
7. Size
1. Maintain a consistent button size.
2. Buttons with long labels may be wider.

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